Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and interstitial lung disease in patients with lung cancer.

Background And Objective: Although lung cancer is frequently accompanied by COPD and interstitial lung disease (ILD), the precise coincidence of these diseases with lung cancer is not well understood. The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of abnormal CT and spirometric findings suggestive of COPD or ILD in a population of patients with untreated lung cancer, and to estimate the lung cancer risk in this population.

Methods: The study population consisted of 256 patients with untreated lung cancer and 947 subjects participating in a CT screening programme for lung cancer.